This is a day that everyone will remember. Even before making it to Heber City, many among the team had been watching out for this date on the calendar because despite all of the climbing we did through the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, we knew that the route held in store for us the largest and steepest continuous climb when we would cross them again heading into Salt Lake City. Guardsman Pass consisted of over 4,000 ft. of elevation gain up to nearly 10,000 ft. above sea level over the course of around a 10-mile span. We climbed that today. For some, the prospect of such a road and such a climb were tantalizing to test our bodies, and for others, a challenge that would signal a true accomplishment of the Summer. Today, even our expectations were not grand enough for the events that transpired. It really was as the title says, a day of the biggest climb and our hardest falls.
Ride Overview
Mileage: 41.8 miles
Elevation: +4,511 ft. / -5,406 ft.
Points of Interest: An Aspen Forest, Many Cyclists of All Levels, Guardsman Pass, Big Cottonwood Canyon, Solitude Mountain, Salt Lake City
Tales of the Trail
As our introduction to this tale stated, the anticipation for this ride today was one of the highest of the entire Summer, bar potentially the 134-mile day out of Columbus, and the climb up Loveland Pass. The morning was perfect for what we were undertaking: cool, but not so cold we required jackets; sunny, but not without clouds in the sky, and riding out of a town where other cyclists were on the road so that we knew we were not alone in our endeavors. We peeled out of the gym we had spent the night at in Heber City and looked, gob smacked, up at the mountains, ski lifts, and cars just barely visible through the trees climbing the passes themselves with the understanding that very soon we would be up on that level too.
Once we reached the base of the climb, it did not let us even question the idea that it would be easy for a second. The first switchback brought the grade up to 15% and had our legs pumping and heart rates through the roof. At the morning circle we had heard that the road up the mountain might be heavily trafficked based on some words from the previous year’s riders, but we were greeted with a very nicely paved road that also had pretty subdued traffic on it through the morning. Without the constant worries about what was behind us, we could focus on the climb at hand and the scenery to take in along the way. That combination made this ascent one of the most special of the entire trip. On the way up, we had one or two other cyclists come by us and either say, if they were coming downhill, that we were in for a rude awakening, or, if they were going uphill, pass while breathing too hard to share words.
For the most part, everyone was running their smallest gear ratio to keep their cadence and speed high enough just to hold balance. Around 1000 ft., or ¼ of the way, into the climb we were really realizing how big this mountain was. Never before had we been on such a consistent steep gradient for so long. This was a new experience, and although it was tough, there was a lot of enjoyment to be drawn from it too. Something about going up climbs gives a sense of accomplishment that long distances on the flats or high speeds on the descents just don’t quite reach. When you make it to the top you can look back down and say “I did that!” Huffing and puffing, we made it to the part of road where we could see Tada (van driver for the day) waiting for us and that gave a huge mental sigh of relief. Extra water and snacks with sugar and salt went a long way at this point.
Even though we already had been, looking down the mountain that we had behind us after the rest stop was a special moment. We had just a little more energy to spare a glance and we could see so much of the valley below and mountains off in the distance. The sight was lovely! Now, we just had a little more than halfway to go. This climb is much, much easier said than done, and that’s saying a lot because it does not sound easy either. The gradient did not let up. By the very end, it actually still held within it a 10-mile segment averaging 10% gradient. As the elevation became higher, we made it into an aspen tree forest where the white bark and small leaves made it feel like we had entered a whole other world.
Other than the rest stop, both of the groups rolling on the road did not stop on their bikes much for the entire climb which was very impressive by itself. We rode in the saddle, out of the saddle, and any other way that felt like it could give us more power to move the pedals and the wheels forward. The reality is that good portions of this climb could have been walked just as quickly or even faster than the speeds we were going on our bikes, but the goal was to get both us and our trusty rides up the mountain together.
As we crossed 3,000 ft. and then 3,500 ft., the top was becoming more of an achievable reality than a dream. There were some segments that we could sniff the high mountain air and our destination getting closer and it felt so good to put the power out and go. Any time we needed a reminder of our abilities, we could look out behind us and see how far we had come. This was the most fun climbing could possibly be! The final incline was there to test our resolve one more time. Right on the corner, we heard from another cyclist we met at the top, the gradient surpassed 20%. As we pulled over onto the rest area on the left of the road, we looked out again over our left shoulders and saw the entire world. We rejoiced in the arms of the beautiful blue skies at the top of Guardsman Pass and to the shouts of encouragement from our teammates who had ridden in the van or made it before us. We can all be proud of making it up this one.
We spent some time at the top of the mountain recovering, eating, and kind of celebrating our accomplishment and success on the biggest climb of the entire ride. We took pictures, gave high-fives, and had some onlookers come up and ask what it was that we were doing. One cancer survivor who had been a state champion criterium cyclist years ago even came and took a picture with us. All of the other bikes we were seeing come up the mountain were far more advanced than ours and many had come up different routes, from Park City or from Salt Lake City because the Heber City route is known as the hardest. That made us feel proud of what we had accomplished.
Before the descent, we rotated teams to put those who were more eager to be speed merchants in one group and those who were more comfortable with a quick but moderated downhill in another. Just minutes after that first group rolled out, we received word that there were problems on the road, one crash, then another. The steep entry to the multiple mile descent brough the speeds well over 30 mph quickly and for some well over 40 mph. On a sharper than expected corner, Parker could not hold grip on his tires and slid out into a wall guarding the side of the road. He was found in quite a lot of pain and a little shocked at what had just transpired. The adrenaline was still running high. At the next corner down the road, a blind hairpin, Max had a similar fate. Realizing that he could not make the curve with his entry speed, Max decided to fall and slid off the road into a tree. Since we first knew of Parker, the van immediately went to rescue him. Max’s fall was seen by a family and father Riley who were able to make sure he was at least well enough to wait for further aid from our van. Parker took some serious hits, and Max caught some scraping and bruising as well. With both having quite serious looking injuries, the decision was made to head to Park City where an urgent care and emergency room were closest. They remained there for most of the rest of the day, returning around dinner time at the stayover. Parker found out that he had fractured parts of his neck and spine and Max had more serious bruising on his quadriceps. Both were walking and talking when we saw them before bed tonight. They have roads to recovery, but they will be fine and will make it there.
While all of this was transpiring, those who remained at the top of the pass as the van went for rescue duty had their own adventures. After continuing to look out at the beautiful sights below, more cyclists continued to roll in. We first met a professional enduro mountain biker who happened to be on her gravel bike that day and training for the Leadville 100, a famous race in Leadville, Colorado where we had just come from. Then, a group of women riders started coming up the mountain and pulling in. One, from Wisconsin, saw the Illinois logos and decided to say hello. She then proceeded to introduce us to her ride leader, Mari Holden, a time-trial world champion and Olympic silver medalist at the 2000 Sydney Games. How is it that all of these people were there at the same time as us? Both were extremely nice and wished us well on our journeys ahead. Then, we had to find our own way down the mountain since the van had no timeline for returning. Sam, Ren, and Anthony were able to hitchhike with Maaike’s bike down the pass to a park and ride while Cole, Nishk, and Ehsan descended on their bikes very cautiously. All of this went well and they found each other, along with the remnants of the first, fast team at the stayover. The descent through Big Cottonwood Canyon was pretty spectacular as well.
After such a long day, a great place to rest and stay was highly desired and that is exactly what was provided at the Zion Lutheran Church in Salt Lake City. They were so welcoming and had food ready from the moment we stepped in the door and more on its way. Everyone we met was genuinely concerned for our fallen riders and wanted to do what they could to help. We had an amazing lasagna dinner and desserts consisting of “I” cookies to follow that up. Our resting places look great, and we know tomorrow will be a day for a ton of rest and recovery.
The team survived and acted with poise and maturity in the face of difficult circumstances. We had one of our favorite rides of the Summer today and those emotions will not go away. Parker and Max will recover and be back on the road sooner than we will know it. This is a day that everyone will remember.
